The North News
Chandigarh, November 18
Punjab’s Industry and Commerce Minister Sanjeev Arora has outlined a wide-ranging reform agenda aimed at strengthening the state’s investment climate, telling industry leaders that the government is pursuing a “clear, reform-oriented roadmap” to upgrade its industrial ecosystem.
Speaking at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Northern Region’s Regional Council meeting in Amritsar on Tuesday, Arora said the state government had formed 24 sector-specific committees and was finalising a Master Industrial Policy under which every sector would have its own targeted framework. “This comprehensive structure will be released shortly to give industry the clarity and direction it needs,” he said.
The minister said Punjab was preparing its long-term power requirement plan through 2035, covering both thermal and renewable sources, as part of efforts to ensure stable energy supply for industry. He added that land had been earmarked for new exhibition centres in Mohali and Ludhiana, with tendering already under way, and a similar facility planned for Amritsar.
Arora highlighted several ease-of-doing-business reforms, including a provision under the Right to Business Act that green-category and a number of orange-category industrial units would receive clearances within five days. He also said stamp duty for properties registered in the name of women would be reduced by one percentage point as part of the government’s women empowerment initiatives.
The minister pointed to Punjab’s expanding logistics network—10 inland container depots, two freight container stations, two international airports, the operational Adampur airport and the forthcoming Halwara airport—which he said would further support business connectivity.
Welcoming Arora to the meeting, CII Northern Region chairperson Anjali Singh said Punjab was emerging as a promising destination for high-quality investments. She cited a ₹150 crore investment by SUJAN in the hospitality sector—starting with Amritsar—as a sign of rising investor confidence. “This investment not only boosts Punjab’s premium tourism potential but also signals a wider shift towards tourism-led economic growth,” she said.
Singh urged the state to promote its available land banks, build cold-chain infrastructure for perishables, identify heritage tourism sites and consider appointing a brand ambassador to strengthen tourism outreach.
The meeting ended on an upbeat note, with both industry representatives and the state government expressing confidence in Punjab’s economic direction and its growing appeal as an investment and tourism hub.
